Larry Fitzgerald Sr., the father of NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald Jr., passed away on Monday, according to his family.
He was 71.
Fitzgerald Jr.’s brother, Marcus, shared the sad news via a statement on X.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr. A devoted father, husband, grandfather, and a true pioneer in the Minnesota broadcasting community, he spent his life pouring into the people and the city he loved so much.
He left us… pic.twitter.com/NozYgLgwYK
— Marcus R. Fitzgerald (@ProfessorMFitz) June 1, 2026
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr.,” Marcus wrote. “A devoted father, husband, grandfather, and a true pioneer in the Minnesota broadcasting community, he spent his life pouring into the people and the city he loved so much.
“He left us peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by his family and the people who loved him most. We are so grateful for the incredible care and kindness shown by the team at the University of Minnesota Fairview Southdale Hospital during this time.”
Marcus went on to ask for thoughts and prayers as the family attempts to “navigate these first difficult days.”
While most known for being the father of one of the greatest receivers of all time, Fitzgerald Sr. made a name for himself long before Fitzgerald Jr. donned the No. 11 in Arizona.
Fitzgerald Sr. worked as a sportswriter in Minnesota for decades, reporting on everything from the Timberwolves to the Vikings. In 2009, he actually got to cover his son’s appearance at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa.
“The Vikings organization is saddened by the passing of Larry Fitzgerald Sr., a distinguished journalist and trusted voice in Minnesota sports for nearly 50 years,” the Vikings wrote in a statement. “Larry built relationships with players, coaches and staff members for each of the local teams and was recognized across the NFL, covering dozens of Super Bowls and other major events. Beyond his reputation in the media, Larry was a dedicated father and a community leader who cared deeply about the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.”
Fitzgerald Sr. earned many accolades during his sportswriting career, including the 2019 Living Legend Legacy Award.
In 2003, he launched the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund — an org. dedicated to raising awareness for breast cancer — following the death of his wife and Fitzgerald Jr.’s mom, Carol.
During one of his last public appearances in February, Fitzgerald Sr. spoke about how proud he was that Fitzgerald Jr. had been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class on the first ballot.
“This is an incredible honor,” Fitzgerald Sr. said at the time. “To see your son become a first ballot Hall of Famer, there’s almost 300 Hall of Famers but there’s only a handful of first-ballot ones. You know how special that is and it means so much to me, I can’t tell you.”
